In an era of often uncritical optimism, Hardy looked upon mankind with dark brooding wisdom. He dared to speak of sexual conflict of man's self-destructiveness, of grotesque mischance. Today his skepticism, his narrative inventiveness, and hostility to realism, and his psychological insight make him a congenial even contemporary voice.

Resumo:

In an era of often uncritical optimism, Hardy looked upon mankind with dark brooding wisdom. He dared to speak of sexual conflict of man's self-destructiveness, of grotesque mischance. Today his skepticism, his narrative inventiveness, and hostility to realism, and his psychological insight make him a congenial even contemporary voice.